Hello everyone, I just read a great new book called The Longest Winter by Alex Kershaw. It's about the Battle of the Bulge and came out just in time for the 60th anniversary. This author wrote another great book you might remember called The Bedford Boys and I think this new title is even better. This book, The Longest Winter, really makes you appreciate just what our troops went through as they did their best to fight Hitler's forces in the freezing cold. We should never forget their sacrifice! BTW - There's a website for more info - http://www.thelongestwinterbook.com. Enjoy, Mayan36
Thanks for letting us know about this; I enjoyed 'Bedford Boys', so this should be good. Anyone seen it in the UK yet?
It's on at 3.20pm UK time, by the way. I contacted the publishers re. this book who tell me they are not publishing it in the UK and that if/when it comes out there it will be with another publisher. If I hear more will post later.
Looks a great read and what a good website - you don't see many good websites dedicated to just one book title!
Hello Mayan, Thank you for the information about Kershaw's latest work - it is on its way to me from Amazon. I venture to suggest, however, that the title "The Longest Winter" would be more appropriate to a book about those who fought in the mountains of Italy 1943/4. As tough as were the conditions during the six-week battle in the Ardennes, more so were those experienced by men (who could not even dig fox holes while holding positions which even mules could not reach with supplies) for a longer period. Cheers, Gerry
Originally posted by Gerry Chester@Jan 2 2005, 04:36 PM Hello Mayan, Thank you for the information about Kershaw's latest work - it is on its way to me from Amazon. I venture to suggest, however, that the title "The Longest Winter" would be more appropriate to a book about those who fought in the mountains of Italy 1943/4. As tough as were the conditions during the six-week battle in the Ardennes, more so were those experienced by men (who could not even dig fox holes while holding positions which even mules could not reach with supplies) for a longer period. Cheers, Gerry [post=30382]Quoted post[/post] I would say that any soldier in the front line in Europe that winter, whether in the Scheldt or the Alsace or Italy, spent one of the longest winters of his life that season.
Originally posted by Kiwiwriter@Jan 2 2005, 04:45 PM I would say that any soldier in the front line in Europe that winter, whether in the Scheldt or the Alsace or Italy, spent one of the longest winters of his life that season. Hi Kiwi, True except the battles took place a year apart. The use of "longest" to describe a winter is but allegorical, if it be used, then one must first consider how long were troops in the line and under what conditions. Unlike NWE where most only fought through one winter, by war's end those in Italy had fought through at least two. The official records of the German 5th Mountain Division are relevant. During January 1944, up on the slopes of the huge Monte Caira, soldiers of the division under General Ringel were manning defensive positions. They had fought on the Eastern Front and soon found that the 1943/4 winter on the Italian mountains was as severe as anything they had experienced and survived during the winters in Russia one of which, the winter of 1942/43, being listed as one of the top ten coldest of the 20th Century. Regards, Gerry
Originally posted by Gerry Chester+Jan 3 2005, 11:41 AM-->(Gerry Chester @ Jan 3 2005, 11:41 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Kiwiwriter@Jan 2 2005, 04:45 PM I would say that any soldier in the front line in Europe that winter, whether in the Scheldt or the Alsace or Italy, spent one of the longest winters of his life that season. Hi Kiwi, True except the battles took place a year apart. The use of "longest" to describe a winter is but allegorical, if it be used, then one must first consider how long were troops in the line and under what conditions. Unlike NWE where most only fought through one winter, by war's end those in Italy had fought through at least two. The official records of the German 5th Mountain Division are relevant. During January 1944, up on the slopes of the huge Monte Caira, soldiers of the division under General Ringel were manning defensive positions. They had fought on the Eastern Front and soon found that the 1943/4 winter on the Italian mountains was as severe as anything they had experienced and survived during the winters in Russia one of which, the winter of 1942/43, being listed as one of the top ten coldest of the 20th Century. Regards, Gerry [post=30402]Quoted post[/post] [/b]I see your point, but I'm speaking metaphorically. To the soldier, his foxhole is the most important one in the world...he's in it.
